AngAndBoys

You will find a lot of information on this in the Home Ports section of the message board.

I like to stay at Intercontinental Hotel which is right there on the water, on Brickell Street. There are 2 in Miami, make sure it's the right one. It is a really nice hotel and has a view of the port so you can see your ship when you wake up.

Some years ago, the MDR used to be open for lunch, but its been a while.

We have a blended family and two of the kids have a different last name than the rest of us. I'm solidly in the better safe than sorry camp but have never been asked for documentation.

 

I always try to make it as easy as possible for the port agents to check us in. We got all the kids passport cards and they just scanned them through, easy peasy. I have always had a something notarized from their Dad stating we have his knowledge and permission to cruise with them.

 

It would be horrible to have the trip ruined before it started.

Same experience, always have it, never get asked for it. Still, I'd way rather be safe than sorry. I DID read about one person on these boards getting asked for it. It takes less than 10 minutes to do it. I'm willing.

Hello everyone.. a few quick questions..

 

1. When you go off the ship at port, what identification should you take? I know my S&S card. Do I take my passport with me? Driver's license? Do I need to take photo ID? Should I just take a copy of my passport? I wasn't sure if I needed photo ID to get back on the ship.

 

2. What about minors that don't have a driver's license?

 

3. AT&T on the ship... anyone have experience with texting and phone calls while aboard ship? THANKS

Poor OP, ask a few simple questions and get a 3 page (so far) argument for an answer.

I don't take anything off with me, including my passport and credit cards because on one of my first cruises, my son's shoes were stolen on the beach. He was 4. Lesson learned. I don't want to deal with lost or stolen passports or credit cards in a foreign country. I consider it way more likely than missing the ship. I bring my S&S, my DL, and enough cash for the day. I usually prepay excursions and I'm not a shopper, so don't need much.

They will not ask minors for ID.

I know nothing of AT&T. Can't contribute anything useful there.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

Yay! Glad to hear you took out the trash and found someone better. If you thought cruises were great before, you will be in utter bliss when you get to go with someone great. Good for you! Happy sails!

Thanks for the review! I'm going to be on in a few weeks. Did you spend any time in the casino? When I was on, they had machines that were shaped like slots, but you could play blackjack on them. Wondering if they still have them.

Here's the link to the story of the guy who missed his ship in Nassau.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2121215&highlight=missing+ship

The price of her fare is based on double occupancy so I can't think of any way to fix this without someone paying more. Even if you put your dd with her, your daughters fare will probably be higher since I assume that she's booked as a third person in your cabin? If your mil goes alone, the rate will be double. If it's an early savor, there will be penalties for anything you change. The very easiest thing is to find someone else who wants to go, if that's possible.

You can call Carnival and see what they suggest for you. If you don't like the first answer, try calling back. You often get different answers from them. This just happened to me recently. I replaced one person with another in my cabin and the first rep told me I had to pay current rates for the new person. Called back 2 days later and the second rep emailed her supervisor while I was on the phone and got permission to give it to me at the original rate, a substantial difference.

Good luck!

I think it is hilarious that the letter says you may be asked to come back later. Yeah right! Like they even know who got what time assigned to them. Clearly they have no clue or control of what their automated system is sending out or fttf and Platinum wouldn't get it. Totally bogus.

There are some tables by the aft pool, but not at the very back of the ship, no. And the ones by the aft pool may not be open air if the roof is closed. There are also plenty of outdoor seats by the midship pool as well and this is always open air. This is the section in front of the buffet.

Sometimes they do let them move up. They have let my younger son move up to be with his older brother before. All you can do is ask. The official policy is that they will not, but depending on how full they are, the counselors will sometimes let them.

Barring that, mine don't really participate in the CC activities so much. They like to go here and there, make friends, then hang out with them elsewhere, mostly at the pool, sports courts, pizza place. So, they could make a few friends there in separate groups then still all hang out together quite a bit.

Happy Sails!

No...This one has a twin and sofa bed

Oh, then no, I wouldn't do it unless you're worried about the sofa bed being uncomfortable. I've never slept on them. My kids do when they come with me and they've never complained about it, so I assume it's ok?

Aren't all 1A's bunk beds though? I don't like bunk beds. It seems like it'd be claustrophobic in the bottom and I'd surely hurt myself getting in or out of the top.

But, if bunk beds don't bother you, then no, I would not give up my window and light for 25 square feet.

I can't get ahead with this VIFP thing. I am booked on my 9th CCL cruise next month. I looked at my VIFP club status and it said I am blue and haven't taken any cruises. So I called CCL. They said no problem, we have you under the wrong VIFP number and you need to use your correct one which has you as gold. So I tried to log in with the "correct" number and got nowhere. So another call to CCL. This time I was told no problem, we'll just merge the blue one into your gold and you will be good to go. So ok I then tried to log in after that and my login was not recognized. At first I thought it might have been a computer problem on their end but when it failed to work the next day I called. And then the real fun started. After speaking to 3 people and getting nowhere I asked for a supervisor. I found out that instead of merging me they totally deleted me and there is no record of me in VIFP. No problem they said we'll fix that and get right on it and call you first thing in the am. Well it's now way past morning and no call. But under my booking number it shows me as Gold so that's all I really need to worry about, right? This sounds petty but I don't want to carry around a blue card when I've been gold for so long.:confused: And I guess I want my free drink coupon and bottle of water. Just venting.

I had similar issues and frustration with my VIFP number on the website when they switched over to the new program I think everyone got new numbers? Anyway, I couldn't ever get mine to come up on the website, but my reservations always had me at the right level. I'm sorry to say that it took me multiple emails and MONTHS to get it resolved. Good news, it all works fine now. I never called though and part of the reason it took so long is I didn't follow up about it until the next time I'd get ready to book a cruise, I'd go to the site, see I still couldn't find my VIFP stuff, email them again. Etc. Good luck.

You do know they have done away with the free drink coupon don't you? All you will get now is a bottle of water. You also won't get the invite to the past guest party anymore.

What? I thought the golds DID get a drink coupon now instead of the party? Don't they?

We were on Triumph Oct 2013. Spent some time at the Red Frog Rum Bar. Fast Forward to Glory March 2014 we walk up to the Red Frog Rum Bar on embarkation day and the Bartender says Hi Keith and Shelley want your red frog rum punch and your long island tea. REALLY We're speechless.

Insane, isn't it?

I think you are closer to right on the cabins and your husband is closer to right on the tables. But I don't know exact numbers.

I hope you discarded the old ones so you don't get mixed up and bring the wrong ones with you! I'd SO do that.

So, I go on Carnival Triumph pretty frequently because I live right here and can jump on for a weekend getaway. When I was on in early December, I was in the buffet line for lunch on day 1 and the guy serving says," Hi Angela, nice to see you, did you come by yourself again?" I was completely taken aback and was like how do you know these things?!! The guy says I was your assistant waiter in the MDR on your last cruise, it was October, wasn't it?

It was. Color me impressed. Those guys have crazy memories!

That's Elation.

:D. I knew someone would know this. I'm terrible with names, all names, including ships.

I've docked downtown just once on many trips to Cozumel. It was the smaller ship out of New Orleans. Can't remember the name, older ship, no balcony cabins.

What is fttf??

Welcome to cruise critic!

FTTF is faster to the Fun which is a service you buy to be treated as a VIP when you cruise. It gives you early embarkation, early disembark, priority tendering, cabin ready earlier, luggage delivered earlier, and access to priority line at guest services. Cost is $60 per cabin.

I would not do a return flight that early. In winter, Galveston can have fog delays. Also, ship gets in at 8, it does not start disembark then. Basically, almost any delay and you'll have problems with making your flight out.

I've done both and like Carnival a little better. I like the MDR food a little better on CCL, buffet better on NCL. Don't care much for shows, but NCLs tend to be better. I love that you never have to dress up on NCL. There are more for pay food places to tempt you into opening your wallet more. To me, the reason Carnival gets the edge is the atmosphere onboard. I like the fun theme and 24/7 party. Not to say that NCL is stuffy, not at all. It is just a different (not bad) vibe. Anyway, bottom line is, they are more alike than different. If you liked your Carnival cruise, you will like NCL just fine.

I just go to guest services on last day, pay off balance with gift cards, no problem.